Electrical starting and ignition system



J. K. DELANO, In.

ELECTRICAL STARTING AND IGNITION SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 13, I916- Patentod Feb. 10, 1920.

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Patented Feb. 10, 1920.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES K. DELANO, JR., OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ELECTRICAL STARTING AND IGNITION SYSTEM.

Application filed May 13, 1916.

To all tllIU/It it may concern.

llc it known that I, JAMES K. Dr:1..\.\'o, Jr.. a citizen of the Inited States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrical Starting and Ignition Systems; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to electrical starting and ignition systems for use with internal combustion engines; and it relates more particularly to systems employed on self-propelled vehicles, wherein dynamo, electric means, operating in conjunction with a stor age battery, is arranged to take power from the battery to start or crank an internal combustion engine, and also to generate and store electrical energy in the battery while the engine is running normally. An important feature of the invention is the provision of means operating automatically to prevent the battery from discharging through the electric machine armature or through the ignition circuit, in case the engine stops or stalls for any reason, the arrangement being such, however, that during the starting or cranking operation, the auto matically operatin means aforesaid is short-circuited, bridged, or otherwise rendered incapable of being actuated by the heavy current drawn from the battery by the dynamo electric machine in turning the engine over,

The accompanying drawings illustrate a desirable practicable embodiment of the invention; but it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific arrangement shown.

Figure 1 is a circuit layout of a starting and ignition system within the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation showing details of a thermostatic'switch device or circuit controller represented diagrammatically in Fig.1;

Fig. 3 is a plan of Fig. 2, partly in section. with the cover removed; and

Fig. 4 is a circuit lay-out of another embodiment of the invention.

Referring to Fig. 1, 10 is a direct current dynamo electric machine, in this instance a dynant motor. adapted for driving connection to an internal combustion engine Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 10, 1920.

Serial No. 97.274.

(not shown) which propels an automobile or the like. At 11 is a storage battery arranged to be charged from the machine 10 when the latter is driven as a dynamo by the internal combustion engine, that is, under normal running conditions. A usual type of high tension ignition system is here illus trated conventionally, the make-and-break device or interrupter being indicated generally at 12 in the primary circuit, and the distributor and spark plugs at 13 and 14, respectively, in the secondary circuit. The circuits connecting the several parts of the system are governed by a switch device ha"- ing a conductive portion 15 movable into .md out of engagement with a group of spring contacts 16, 17 18, 19, and 20. Of these contacts, 16 is connected to the battery, 17 and 18 to the ignition system, and 19 and 20 to the dynamo electric machine 10. The switch member 15 is carried by a shaft or rod 21 which is mounted for longitudinal movement in bearings 22, 23, at opposite ends of a casing or box 24. A coiled spring 25, under compression, tends to move the switch to its extreme position at the right, as seen in Figs. 2 and 3, where it engages none of the contacts. This is the ofi'- position of the switch, and it is yieldably held in this position by a spring-controlled sto 26 whose rounded end is arranged to partially enter a groove 27 and to be readily dislodged there: from by a push on the knob 28 of the switch rod. Another spring stop 29, having a square shouldered end, adapted to enter groove 30, is arranged to automatically lock the switch in 0fl"position. This stop can be lifted and held out of the groove in inoperative position by means of a key 31, Whose pointed end is adapted to engage a V-shaped oove 32 in stop 29 when the key is thrust inwardly. After being thrust inwardly, with the pins 31" lying in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the drawing, the rod may then be turned to engage said pins in the covered recess 51 to hold the stop device in unlocked position. A locking device of this character is desirable but is not indispensable. If the knob 28 is now pushed in so as to move switch member 15 to its extreme position at the left, or starting position. said switch member engages all the contacts: and when the knob is released, spring 25 moves the switch toward the right until it is arrested by the engagement of stop 26 in a groove 33 in the switch. This is running position, in which, as is shown in'Fig. 3, the switch does not engage contacts 18 and 20. The switch may be moved into ofl' osition either manually, by a pull on knob 28, or automatically by mechanism now to be described.

The lead connecting contact 19 with the dynamo motor 10 contains a heating C011 34 surrounding a thermostatic element 35 but insulated therefrom by suitable non-conductive material 35. Said element may take the form of a complound strip of two metals having different t ermal coeflicients of expansion. For convenience in adjusting the thermostatic element, it is fixed at one end on a flexible support 36, provided with an adjusting screw 37. The metals of the compound strip are so arranged that when the temperature of the stri rises, its free end moves upwardl and 1f the temperature rises suflicient high, said free end strikes flange 38 of t e nut 39 which is carried by stop 26 lifting the stop and thereby releasing switch rod 21, which is thereu on moved to OK position by its control ng spring. In order to; allow for changes in atmospheric temperature, the free end of the thermostatic element has aslight pll ilily between flan 38 9.111140 of the nut. e position of t e nut'on thestop may be adjusted'as desired; and the nut locked in place by a'jam nut341"; .Upward movement of the stop is opposed by spring 42 bearing on the lower'nut flange. 1 v Evidiitl wthe thermostatic device may take other ormsr ThusitheeIementBBmay be designed to be included in the circuit and to "be self-heating. It may also be arranged to constitute a stop instead of using a separa e stop member: 26. The construction sh wn has practical advantages, however.

cover 43 protects the switch mechanism an also a non-inductive regulating resistan e 44 which is inserted in the connection between contact ll and the transformer 45 of the ignition system. The transformer is conveniently housedbelqw the switch mechanism in an extension of the casi'n 24, the whole forming a compact unit a apted to be mounted on the dash of an automobile. In Fig. 1, the switch rod 21 is represented diagrammatically as e rtending through such:

a dash at 46, a stop-47 being provided on the rod to limit its forward movement. Nut 48 limits movement in the opposite direction. it hand switch 49, which may be mounted on the dash as usual, is shown in the primary ignition circuit. Such a switch is evi dently not essential in the system here described where the plunger switch controls the ignition circuit as well as the dynamo circuit.

The operation of the system above described is clear from what has been said, but will be briefly summarized. Assuming contacts. Heating coil 34.- is now bridged through contact 20, permitting the dynamo motor to draw a heavy current directly from the battery at the moment of starting, and enabling it to exert a strong torque on the engine crank shaft; while at the same time the heating coil is unafl'ected. The heating coil is designed to carry the normal batterycharging current from the dynamo under running conditions without heating up; but the starting current is much heavier and if it had to pass through the heating coil the latter would quickly heat up and with raw stop 26. If, under these conditions, the knob 28 were released b the operator, the switch would be thrown ack to ofi position, instead of being arrested in running position 'by engagement of the stop iii groove 33, as it is in the present arrangement;

It is to be noted also that in starting position, resistancevj' l l in-the ignition cir -to the primary of the ignition coil when starting, even though the battery voltage may have dropped somewhat below' normal by reason of the temporary heavy pull of the dynamo electric machine on the battery, or by reason of some other cause. In other words, this arrangement permits increasing the ampere turns of the primary when the. machine is connected to the battery for starting the engine.

When the engine hasspeeded up, theoperator releases the switch knob, and sprin 25 moves the switch back until it is arrested and held in runnin positon by stop 26, as previously explaine The d 'namo electric machine is now driven by the engine and charges the battery through regulating coil 50, or other suitable regulating means, and also through heating coil 34, which latter, as stated, can carry the normal charging current without operating the thermostatic release.

When the operator desires to stop the eugiuc, he pulls the switch into off position, the stop 26 yielding to permit this. If, however, the engine stalls with the switch in running position, there is a heavy reverse flow of current from the battery to ground through the low resistance armature of the dynamo electric machine. This discharge current, being much larger than the normal charging current, causes the thermostatic release to operate after a very brief delay, and to withdraw stop 26 from groove 33, thus permitting the spring 25 to move the switch to its off position at the extreme right, whereby both the'dynamo and ignition circults are automatically brbken, preventing damage to the armature and discharge of the battery. This automatic operation also prevents the battery discharging through the primary ignition circuit and heating the transformer in case the engine stalls on a high point of the interrupter cam 51.

The brief delay in the operation of the thermostatic release is desirable because otherwise it would throw the switch out whenever the engine stalled only momentarily.

In a 2-unit system, such as that shown in Fig. 4, for example, where a motor 52 is used for starting, while machine 10 operates as a dynamo to charge the battery, the motor lead 53 may be brought to contact 20, machine 10 bein no longer connected thereto. In starting position, the switch therefore permits the battery to deliver startingcurrent directly to the motor 52 independently of the thermostat device; and if necessary either switch member 15 or contact 19 may be so arranged that machine 10 is disconnected from the battery when starting, an arrangement obviously applicable also to the single unit system first described. In running position, on the other hand, motor 52 is entirely out out, dynamo 10 charging the battery through the protective thermostat coil as before. The expression dynamo electric means employed in certain of the appended claims is intended to cover the use of either one or two machine units in a system of the character herein disclosed.

Obviously the described system may be arranged to supply current for lighting purposes also, but it is deemed unnecessary to illustrate the details of such arrangement.

What I claim is: i

1. In an electrical starting system for use with internal combustion engines, the combination, with a dynamo motor adapted to drive'and to be driven by an.internal combustion engine, and a storage battery adapted to be charged by said dynamo motor when the latter is being driven as a generator, and to deliver current thereto for operating it as a motor to start or crank the engine, of a movable switch member adapted to complete a circuit whereby the dynamo motor, when driven, may charge the battery, thermostatic means operable by excessive flow of current in said circuit to effect movement of said switch member and to open said circuit, said switch member being also movable to connect the battery directly to said dynamo motor, whereby said dynamo motor may draw a heavy start- .ing current from the battery without- .op-

eratively affecting said thermostatic means.

2. The combination with -a dynamo motor adapted for driving connection to an internal combustion engine, and a storage battery, of suitable circuit connections afsponsive control means for moving said switch means into disconnecting position.

3. In an electrical starting system for use with internal combustion engines the combination, with a dynamo motor adapted for drivingconnection to an internal combustion engine, of a contact electrically connected to the battery, a second contact electricaily connected to the dynamo motor,

switch means movable into starting position, running position and off position, and electrically connecting said contacts when in running position, a spring tending to move said switch means into ofi' position, detent means normall preventing such movementbut releasab e by excessive flow of current between the battery and dynamo motor when the switch means is in running position, and a third contact electrically connected to said dynamo motor, said switch means being arranged when in starting position to electrically connect said first and third contacts, the connection'between the dynamo motor and battery, for this position of the switch, being such that heavy starting current may flow from the battery without affecting the operation of said detent means.

4. In an electrical starting system for use with internal combustion engines, the combination, with a dynamo motor adapted to drive and to be driven by an internal combustion engine, and a storage 'battery adapted to be charged by said dynamo motor when the latter is being driven as a generator, and to deliver current thereto for operating it as a motor to start or crank the engine, of a movable switch member adapted to complete a circuit whereby the dynamo motor, when driven, may charge the battery, current-responsive means operable by a predetermined flow of current in said circuit to effect movement of said switch member and thereby to open said circuit, said switch member being also movable to connect the battery directly to said tery when starting different positions dynamo motor, whereby said dynamo motor may draw aheavy starting current from the battery without operatively afl'ecting said current responsive means.

5. In an electrical starting system for use with internal combustion engines, the combination, with, dynamo electric means adapted for driving connection to an internal combustion engine, and a storage battery arranged to be charged from said dynamo electric means andto deliver current thereto, of a switch device, thermostatic means operable by excessive flow of current between said dynamo electric means and battery to efiect movement of said switch device and thereby to disconnect said dynamo electric means and battery, said switch device being also movable to connect said dynamo means directly to the batthe engine.

6. An electrical starting and ignition system for use with internal combustion engines comprising, in combination, dynamo electric means adapted for connection to an internal combustion engine, a storage battery ada ted to be charged from the dynamo e ectric means and to deliver current thereto, an ignition system, circuit connections, and switch. means movable into to cooperate with said connections, the switch means, when in one position, the ignition system and to the dynamo electric means, and, when in a second position,

connecting the battery to the ignition system through a resistance, and to the dynamo electric means through a thermostatic device operable upon excessive flow of current therethrough to disconnect the battery from 40 both the dynamo electric means and the ignition system.

7. In apparatus of the character described, the combination, with a dynamo electric machine adapted to start an inter- 46 nal combustion engine, and a battery arconnecting the battery directly to ranged to supply current to said machine, of an ignition coil having a primary connected to said battery, means for changing the circuit connections. to increase the ampere turns of the primary when said machine is connected to the battery for starting purposes without altering the relation of the battery cells, and means tending automatically to render the first mentioned means inoperative to so increase the ampere turns.

8. In apparatus of the character described, the combination, with a dynamo electric machine adapted to start an internal combustion engine, and abattery arranged to supply current to said machine, of an ignition coil having a primary connected to said battery, switch means movable to connect said battery to said machine for starting the engine and at the same time to increase the ampere turns of the primary without altering the relation of the battery cells, and resilient means tending to move said switch means out of such starting connection.

9. In apparatus of the character described, the combination, with a dynamo electric machine adapted to start an internal combustion engine, and a battery arranged to supply current to said machine, of an ignition coil having a primary connected to said battery, switch means movable to connect said battery to said machine for starting the engine and at the same time to increase the ampere turns of the primary, and thermostatic means operable by excessive flow of current from the battery to disconnect said primary from the battery.

In testimony whereof I hereunto a x my signature.

JAMES K. DELANO, JR.

Witnesses CnEs'rEn H. NORTON, ARTHUR W. MEAD. 

